Exhibits

First Floor

The exhibit plan encircles the centrally located remains of the CSS Neuse, beginning with the introductory display located along the east wall of the exhibit hall, flowing counterclockwise as the visitor enters to the right from the building lobby.

Strategic Kinston

Illustrates Kinston’s strategic importance in eastern North Carolina. With text panels, historic images and period maps, the visitor will become familiar with Kinston’s role in eastern North Carolina and why the CSS Neuse was built in the Kinston area due to its proximity to major transportation routes.

Making of a Gunboat

This section details the development and design of ironclad ships in North Carolina during the Civil War, and includes text panels, historic images and plans, artifacts, and a scale model of the Neuse.

Construction in White Hall and Outfitting in Kinston

These displays contain extensive collections of related artifacts recovered with the ship. This area also includes a large piece of the ship’s casemate displayed along with iron plating and large ship components.

Replica Casemate

The visitor will next encounter a full-scale replica of a portion of the Neuse’s gun deck and casemate, situated along the north wall of the exhibit hall. This display allows the visitor to experience the casemate interior, and illustrates the materials and construction of the casemate. This display also contains a replica 6.4” Brooke rifled cannon, mounted and moveable for staff demonstrations.

Ship’s Wheel and Life on the CSS Neuse

This exhibit covers the ship’s weapons, power, and steering. This section includes an interactive steering display where the visitor can turn a ship’s wheel and see how a system of pulleys moved the rudder of the ship. The visitor will next reach displays about the ship’s crew and officers, including artifact displays of uniforms and personal equipment, crew quarters, duties, food and food preparation, and forms of entertainment while stationed with the Neuse.

Final Days of the CSS Neuse

This section ends with the final days and destruction of the boat by the crew as they evacuated Kinston.

Recovery of the Gunboat

This section brings the visitor into the early 1960s when renewed interest in the Neuse led to salvage attempts, and ultimately the recovery of the ship’s remains from the Neuse River.

Second Floor (Mezzanine)

These displays include facades of representative local buildings, and illustrate wartime life in Kinston through eye-witness accounts and artifact displays of period domestic artifacts. These displays include clothing, textiles, merchandise and tools, and end with religion and mourning practices during the war.

Foster’s Raid Exhibit

This exhibit highlights Union General John G. Foster’s raid through eastern North Carolina, December 11-20, 1862, during which the First Battle of Kinston, Battle of Whitehall, and Battle of Goldsboro Bridge were fought. The new exhibit highlights the entire campaign and the men who fought in it through graphic panels and unique artifacts from the museum’s collection.